Man arrested for allegedly breaking into daycare, stealing from donation box

KINGWOOD, Texas -- A Houston man is accused of breaking into a Kingwood area daycare, helping himself to some food, using a cooking pot as a toilet, and finally stealing several electronics before finally setting off the alarm.

He's also accused of stealing money from a donations box meant to help with children's cancer research.

Precinct 4 Deputy Constables arrested Denton Rodriguez, 23, after he admitted to targeting the Rocking Horse Daycare on Kings Manor Drive in Montgomery County. Rodriguez told investigators he and another man kicked in the backdoor of the daycare early Saturday but left immediately when the alarm activated.

Rodriguez ays he returned alone later in the day and made entry through a different point of the building, bypassing the alarm system. Constables say Rodriguez then went to the kitchen where he ate food, tossed items around and used a cooking pot as a toilet.

At this point, Rodriguez triggered a motion sensor setting off the alarm system. Investigators say Rodriguez then grabbed a laptop computer, a Wii game console, games, and other accessories before leaving the business.

The Montgomery County Sheriff's Office heard about the crime at the daycare and alerted the Precinct 4 Constable's Office of a similar incident that happened at an apartment complex in Kingwood. Witnesses there had reported seeing Rodriguez counting money which was believed to have been stolen from a donations box meant for the St. Jude Children's Research Hospital. Deputies gave constables a picture of Rodriguez, who then gave the picture to the daycare owner.

The daycare owner took the photo to the Redi Cash Pawn Shop on Loop 494 in Porter, where he asked the store to call police if Rodriguez came in with the stolen items. Ten minutes later, the pawn shop owner said Rodriguez arrived and alerted deputies who arrested Rodriguez.

Constables say Rodriguez admitted to stealing from both the daycare and the donations box. His arrest is also expected to clear other recent burglaries in the Kingwood area.